Coin handling escrow device

ABSTRACT

An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit has been designed, whereby coins deposited in a coin-operated machine may be held in escrow until it is determined if the coins are to be retained or returned. In accordance with the determination, the coins are either returned to the customer via a coin return chute or retained by the machine and used to fill a coin storage chamber of a change dispenser. Coins in excess of the chamber storage capacity are automatically transferred to a coin collection box. This apparatus includes a chute adapted to receive coins through an open top thereof and to feed coins to a coin dispenser from the bottom thereof; a retractable blocking member that normally protrudes into the chute and thereby blocks the passage of coins from the top to the bottom of the chute; an opening in the side of the chute having a removable cover thereon, such that coins held by the blocking member may be removed from the chute through the opening when the cover is removed; and a two position separation gate outside the chute and below the opening for guiding the coins passing through the opening either to a coin return chute or to a coin collection box.

United States Patent 91 Jensen v 1111 3,805,936 Apr. 23, 1974 COINHANDLING ESCROW DEVICE [75] Inventor: Herman G. Jensen, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: The Seeburg Corporation of Delaware, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: June 25,1973

21 Appl.No.:373,025

[52] U.S. Cl 194/1 H, 194/1 K, l94/D1G. l0, l94/DIG. 15 [51] Int. Cl.G07f 9/04 [58] Field of Search 232/575; 194/D1G. l5, 194/1 K, 1 H, DIG.10; 133/2 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,230,566 2/1941Hakanson 194/010. 15 3,204,648 9/1965 Rumer, Jr. et al 133/2 PrimaryExaminer-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-David A. Scherbel [57]ABSTRACT An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit has beendesigned, whereby coins deposited in a coinoperated machine may be heldin escrow until it is determined if the coins are to be retained orreturned. In accordance with the determination, the coins are eitherreturned to the customer via a coin return chute or retained by themachine and used to fill a coin storage chamber of a change dispenser.Coins in excess of the chamber storage capacity are automaticallytransferred to a coin collection box. This apparatus includes a chuteadapted to receive coins through an open top thereof and to feed coinsto a coin dispenser from the bottom thereof; a retractable blockingmember that normally protrudes into the chute and thereby blocks thepassage of coins from the top to the bottom of the chute; an opening inthe side of the chute having a removable cover thereon, such that coinsheld by the blocking member may be removed from the chute through theopening when the cover is removed; and a two position separation gateoutside the chute and below the opening for guiding the coins passingthrough the opening either to a coin return chute or to a coincollection box.

13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COIN HANDLING ESCROW DEVICE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention generally relatesto escrow devices that hold coins deposited in a coin-operated machineuntil it is determined whether to refund the money or to retain themoney in the machine, and more particularly this invention relates to anescrow device that automatically loads a change storage unit in a changedispenser with the coins retained in the machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art Escrow devices, as they are commonlycalled, are well-known in the art and find particular application invending machines. An escrow device is used to hold coins deposited in acoin-operated machine until a decision is reached by either the machineor by the customer depositing the coins whether an article is to bevended or whether the coins are to be returned to the customer. In atypical situation, a customer initially desiring to purchase a 30f itemfrom a vending machine might deposit two dimes therein but find that helacks a third dime to complete the purchase. In such a case, it isdesirable that the customer be able to push a coin return button andobtain the return of the two dimes already deposited. In another case,the same customer might deposit all 30 for the 309 item and then decidethat he no longer wants the item, in which case it is again desirable toallow for the return of the money before the customer actually selectsand receives the designated item.

The escrow devices commonly used generally comprise an escrow bucket, inwhich all deposited coins initially are received, and a movable gatemounted below the escrow bucket, such that coins dumped from the bucketmay be deflected into a coin return chute or into a coin collection box;

Another feature that is commonly found in coinoperated machines, such asvending machines, is a change dispenser, which deducts the cost of thepurchase from the amount of money inserted in the vending machine andreturns the difference to the customer as change. In a typicalcoin-operated vending machine having a change dispenser, a customerdepositing a quarter and selecting a l-product will receive 15 changefrom the change dispenser.

Associated with a change dispenser are change storage units, which storestacks of coins of appropriate denominations for use. by the changedispenser in making change for larger denomination coins. These changestorage units of course have to be refilled occasionally, and it isusually the case that the refilling is required more frequently than thenormal servicing of the vending machine. Thus, the machine must beserviced more frequently than would otherwise be necessary for a machinewithout a change dispenser, and this operation makes a machine with achange dispenser more costly to operate than one without a changedispenser, thus nullifying, to some extent, the convenience derived fromthe presence of a change dispenser in the machine.

In order to avoid these problems, some vending operations employself-loading change storage units, whereby coins retained in the machineare first used to refill the change storage units, and then anyremaining coins are transferred to a coin collection box. Theselfloading change storage units presently available have not, however,been entirely satisfactory, because they are quite complex and expensiveand often require frequent maintenance expenditures.

The present invention obviates this deficiency in the prior art devicesand provides an escrow device and self-loading change storage unit thatis simple, inexpensive, and effective in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The escrow device and self-loading changestorage unit of the present invention comprises a chute that is adaptedto received deposited coins in the top thereof and to feed coins to achange dispenser from the bottom thereof. A retractable blocking memberprotrudes into the chute, dividing it into an upper portion above theblocking member and a lower portion below the blocking member. Coinsreceived in the top of the chute will be prevented from falling to thebottom of the chute and will be retained in an escrow position in theupper portion of the chute by the blocking member. The side wall of thechute has an opening therein opposite the blocking member with aremovable cover thereon, such that when the cover is removed, theopening is large enough to permit coins stacked in the upper portion ofthe chute to pass through the opening out of the side of the chute.

Outside of the chute and below the opening in the side wall, a movablegate is provided, sothat when the gate is in a first or rest position,any coins passing out of the chute through the opening will be deflectedto a coin collection box, and when the gate is in a second position,coins passing through the opening in the side of the chute willfall'directly to a coin return chute to be returned to the customer.

A coin return operation is accomplished in the following manner. Coinsentering the top of the chute fall down the chute and stack up on ablocking member. The upper surface of the blocking member is slopeddownwardly toward the opening in the side wall of the chute, so that ifthe cover is removed, any coins held in an escrow position will slidethrough the opening out of the chute toward either the coin return orthe coin collection box. In response to a coin return signal, a suitabledrive means is actuated to move the gate to its second position and toremove the cover so that all of the coins held in escrow slide throughthe opening and directly into a coin return chute.

If the coins held in the escrow position are to be retained by thevending machine, the following coin collect operation occurs. First, theretractable blocking means is withdrawn from the chute, thereby allowingthe coins to drop from the upper portion of the chute to the lowerportion of the chute, which constitutes the change storage unit. If thechange storage unit is filled up to the level of the blocking member,the coins released by the blocking member will not drop into the lowerportion of the tube, but will remain in a stack on the coins below, andthis stack will protrude into the upper portion of the chute. Thesecoins, deemed Extra coins, are then transferred to a coin collection boxby the return of the blocking member to its original position and thesimultaneous removal of the cover from the opening in the side wall ofthe chute. As the blocking member re-enters the chute, coins stacked infront of the blocking member are pushed through the opening in the sidewall by the blocking member and are deflected by the gate (in its restposition) to the coin collection box.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the subject invention,employing a single chute and only three moving parts provides an escrowdevice and selfloading change storage unit that occupies a minimum ofspace and provides a simple, faultfree operation that has heretoforebeen unavailable in any of the prior art devices known.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide anescrow device and a self-loading change storage unit that is simple,inexpensive, and effective in operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide an escrow device thatwill operate in conjunction with a selfloading change storage unit for achange dispenser.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the subjectinvention will be illustrated in the following preferred embodiments ofthe subject invention described below and in the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theinvention in its stand-by or rest position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in its coin returnposition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention in its coin collectposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the preferred embodiment ofthe subject invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, the chute is mounted on aconventional coin dispenser 12 (shown schematically in FIG. 1).- Thechute 10 comprises a tubular side wall 14 with an open top 16 that isadapted to receive coins deposited in a coin-operated machine employingthe present invention. The chute is divided into an upper portion 18,which is used for holding coins in escrow, and a lower portion 20, whichis a change storage unit for the coin dispenser 12.

The chute is provided with a blocking member 22 that may be insertedinto and withdrawn from the tube through an opening 24 in the side wall14. Blocking member 22 comprises a horizontal lower surface 26 and aninclined upper surface 28 and is slidably supported on a channel 30 andstrut 32, which are attached to side wall 14 of chute 10. A conventionaldrive means 34 (shown schematically in FIG. 3) moves blocking member 22from its rest or stand-by position shown in FIG. 1 to its retractedposition shown as the dashed element 22"in FIG. 3 and then back to itsrest position.

As shown in FIG. 2, coins received in chute 10 come to rest upon theinclined upper surface 28 of blocking member 22 and hence are urged bythe force of gravity to slide downwardly off blocking member 22. Whenthe apparatus is in its stand-by position (i.e., the position shown inFIG. 1) section 38 of tubular side wall 14 holds the stacked coins intheir escrow position on top of blocking member 22. However, section 38is not fixed to the remaining portion of side wall 14 but is supportedby shaft 40 which is in turn supported by U- shaped member 42. U-shapedmember 42 is suspended from braces 44 which are fastened to thenon-movable portion of tubular side wall 14. With section 38 suspendedthusly, it may be moved from a stand-by or first position in FIG. 1 to asecond position, shown in FIG. 2, by retracting shaft 40 by means of aconventional drive means 46 (shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2). Whensection 38 occupies the position shown in FIG. 2, the section providesno restraining force on the coins resting on the inclined upper surface28 of blocking member 22 and therefore allows the coins to pass out ofthe chute through the opening 48 in tubular side wall 14.

Hinged gate 50 outside chute 10 and below opening 48 may be pivoted onits mounting 52 by means, of a conventional drive means 54 throughconventional linkage 56 to guide coins leaving the chute through opening48 either to a coin return chute (as shown in FIG. 2) or to a coincollection box (as shown in FIG. 3).

The coin return operation may be described as follows. Coins enteringchute 10 come to rest on inclined upper surface 28 of blocking member22, with the blocking member in its rest position. When the coin returnsignal is given, gate 50 is rotated counterclockwise to its secondposition (i.e., the position shown in FIG. 2) and section 38 iswithdrawn from tubular side wall 14. Because the coins are resting oninclined surface 28, they will slide off the blocking member 22 and passout of the chute through opening 48 and fall downward into a suitablecoin return chute (not shown). The cycle is then completed by the returnof hinged gate 50 and section 38 to their stand-by positions (shown inFIG. 1).

If, in the case of the vending machine, an article is selected by acustomer and received, the following coin collection operation isinitiated. First, blocking member 22 is moved to its retracted position(shown by dashed element 22 in FIG. 3) by drive means 34. This allowscoins 36 to drop past the blocking member into the coin storage area inthe lower portion 20 of chute 10. Section 38 is then withdrawn fromtubular side wall 14 by drive means 46 to the position shown in FIG. 3and gate 50 remains in its stand-by position. If the change storage unit(i.e., the portion of chute 10 lying below blocking member 22 (isalready filled with coins when blocking member 22 is retracted, thereleased coins will not drop into the coin storage unit but will rest ontop of the coins in the change storage unit, thus forming a stack ofcoins which protrudes into the path of the blocking member 22 and intothe upper portion of the chute 10. When the blocking member is returnedto its stand-by position after being retracted, all of these extra coinsprotruding above the level of horizontal lower surface 26 will beskimmed off the top of the stack of coins and pushed through opening 48in tubular side wall 14 by the returning blocking member, whereupon theywill be guided by gate 50 into an appropriate coin collection box. Afterthis operation, section 38 is again returned to its stand-by positionand the escrow device and self-loading coin storage unit are ready forthe next operating cycle.

There are of course many possible alternative embodiments of the presentinvention. In one such alternative embodiment, the blocking member 22could be pivoted at the upper edge 58 of opening 24 instead of beingslidably supported within channel member 30. Likewise, section 38 couldbe pivoted at the top 16 of chute 10 instead of being entirely removabletherefrom. Also, rather than removing a whole section from tubular sidewall 14, a suitable opening could be provided in tubular side wall 14and a removable cover placed thereon.

Another embodiment of the subject invention comprises separate escrowand change storage chutes, with the top of the change storage chuteterminating at the bottom of the escrow chute. The escrow chute is fixedin the machine and, as usual, receives deposited coins in the topthereof. The change storage chute, however is movable horizontally intothree positions. In its first or rest position, the top of the side wallof the change storage chute blocks the bottom of the escrow chute, sothat deposited coins will be held in the escrow chute by the top edge ofthe change storage chute. In its second position, the change storagechute is in direct alignment with the storage chute. In its thirdposition, the change storage chute is completely out of alignment withthe escrow chute, so that coins may drop from the escrow chute past thecoin storage chute and may be deflected by a gate similar to gate 50 ofthe first embodiment described above to a coin return chute or to a coincollection box.

The coin return operation is as follows. Coins received in the top ofthe escrow chute fall to the bottom of the chute and become stacked onthe top edge of the change storage chute in its first position. When thecoin return signal is received, the change storage chute moves to itsthird position, thereby permitting the coins to drop from the escrowchute. Simultaneously, the gate moves to its coin return position,wherein it will guide these coins to the coin return chute.

The coin collect operation is as follows. Coins received in the escrowchute are, as before, held in the escrow chute by the top edge of thechange storage chute. When the coin collect signal is received, thechange storage chute first moves into alignment with the escrow chute,thereby permitting the coins to drop from the escrow chute into thechange storage chute. If the change storage chute is full, the coins ofcourse will not drop into the change storage chute but will remain in astack in the escrow chute. The change storage chute then moves to itsthird position and the gate moves to its coin collect position, so thatextra coins (i.e., coins failing to drop into the coin storage chute)will be skimmed off the top of the stack within the change storage chuteand will be guided by the gate into a collection box. The change storagechute then returns to its first position and is ready for the nextcycle.

Various additional changes, modifications, and variations could also bemade in the arrangements, operations and details of construction of theelements disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

I claim:

1. In a coin-operated machine having a change dispenser, a coin returnchute, and a coin collection box, an improvement comprising an escrowdevice and selfloading change storage unit comprising:

chute means having upper and lower portions, said chute means forreceiving deposited coins through an opening in said upper portion andfor feeding said coins to the change dispenser from said lower portion;

blocking means for holding deposited coins in an escrow position in saidupper portion when said blocking means is in a rest position, saidblocking means being movable to a second position so that said coins arepermitted to drop from said escrow position to a change storage area insaid lower portion of said chute means; coin return means fortransferring coins held in said escrow position to the coin return chutein response to a coin return signal; and coin collect means for movingsaid blocking means to its second position in response to a coin collectsignal, thereby allowing said coins to drop into said change storagearea, and further for transferring to the coin collection box inresponse to the same coin collect signal, all coins that fail to dropinto said change storage area when said blocking means is moved to itssecond position. 2. An escrow device and self-loading change storageunit as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said blocking means comprises a blocking member movably mounted in thecoin-operated machine, said blocking member having a first positionwherein passage of deposited coins to change storage area is preventedand said coins are held in an escrow position in said upper portion,said blocking member having a second position wherein said coins arepermitted to drop from said escrow position into said change storagearea in said lower portion of said chute means; and said coin collectmeans comprises drive means to move said blocking means from its firstto its second position in response to a coin collect signal, therebyallowing said deposited coins to drop into said change storage area, anddrive means responsive to the same coin collect signal adapted totransfer to the coin collection box all coins that fail to drop intosaid change storage area when said blocking means is moved to its secondposition. 3. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit asclaimed in claim 1 wherein:

the upper portion of said chute means has an opening therein adjacent tosaid blocking means and a removable cover is positioned over saidopening such that, when said cover is removed, said opening is largeenough to permit coins stacked in the upper portion of the chute meansto pass through said opening; and said coin return means comprises drivemeans to remove said cover, thereby permitting coins to pass throughsaid opening, and deflection means adapted to guide said coins passingthrough said opening to said coin return chute. 4. An escrow device andself-loading change storage unit'as claimed in claim 3'wherein:

said blocking means comprises an upper surface that is inclineddownwardly toward said opening, such that coins held in said escrowposition will become stacked in an inclined position on said surface andwill slide through said opening when said cover is removed. 5. An escrowdevice and self-loading change storage unit as claimed in claim 4wherein:

said chute means comprises an upper portion having an opening in itsside wall adjacent to said blocking means and having a removable coverthereon. such that, when said cover is removed, said opening is largeenough to permit coins stacked in the upper portion of the chute to passthrough said opening; and

said coin collect means comprises drive means to remove said cover andto return said blocking means to its rest position from its retractedposition, whereby all coins failing to drop below the level of saidblocking means are pushed by said blocking means through said opening insaid chute means, and deflection means to guide said coins to said coincollection box after they are pushed through said opening.

6. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit as claimed inclaim wherein:

said deflection means for guiding coins passing through said opening insaid chute means to the 'coin collection box or to the coin return chutecomprises gate means movably mounted in the machine outside said chutemeans and below said opening, said gate means being movable to a firstposition in response to a coin collect signal, so that coins passingthrough said opening are guided to a coin collection box, said gatemeans being movable to a second position in response to a coin returnsignal so that coins passing'through said opening are guided by saidgate means to a coin return chute.

7. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit as claimed inclaim 5 wherein:

said blocking means is slidably mounted on a support means mounted onthe outside of said chute means, said support means for directing saidblocking means in a path perpendicular to the direction of travel ofcoins within the upper portion of said chute means and through a slot inthe upper portion of said chute means opposite said opening in saidupper portion; and

said cover on said opening comprises a removable section of said sidewall of said chute means.

8. In a coin-operated machine having a change dispenser, a coin chute,and a coin collection box, an improvement comprising an escrow deviceand selfloading change storage unit comprising:

a hollow cylindrical chute having upper and lower portions, said upperportion for receiving deposited coins through an open top end and saidlower portion for receiving coins passed by said upper portion and forstoring the coins for use by the change dispenser;

a blocking member for holding deposited coins in an escrow position insaid upper portion, said blocking member movable in a directionessentially perpendicular to the cylindrical chute between a restposition and an activated position, said blocking member preventingpassage of coins from the upper portion to the lower portion when in itsrest position, said blocking member permitting coins held in said upperportion to drop into said lower portion when moved to its activatedposition;

coin return means for passing coins held in said upper portion to a coinreturn chute through the side of said upper portion in response to acoin return signal;

coin collect means for moving said blocking member to its activatedposition in response to a coin collect signal thereby allowing coins todrop into said lower portion, and further, upon termination of said coincollect signal, for returning said blocking member to its rest positionthereby pushing coins in excess of said lower portion storage capacityinto the coin collection box.

9. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit as claimed inclaim 8 wherein:

said blocking member has a sloping upper surface and a blunt frontaledge, said sloping upper surface for supporting deposited coins held inescrow and said blunt frontal edge for pushing excess coins off the topof coins stored in said lower portion of said cylindrical chute.

10. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit as claimed inclaim 8 wherein:

said cylindrical chute comprises an upper portion having a first andsecond section, said first section being slidably mounted so that inresponse to a coin return signal, said first section is movedhorizontally to an activated position thereby allowing coins to passthrough the opening created between said first and second sections, andsaid second section of said upper portion being stationarily mounted andhaving a slot through which said blocking member is moved.

1 1. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit as claimed inclaim 8 further comprising:

a deflection gate having a first and second position,

said first position for guiding coins to the coin return chute and saidsecond position for guiding coins to the coin collection box.

12. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit as claimed inclaim 11 wherein said deflection gate is moved to its first position inresponse to a coin return signal and to its second position in responseto a coin collect signal. I

13. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit as claimed inclaim 12 wherein:

said cylindrical chute comprises an upper portion having a first andsecond section, said first section being slidably mounted so that aftersaid deflection gate'is moved to its second position in response to acoin collect signal, said first section is moved horizontally to itsactivated position thereby allowing coins to be pushed through theopening created between said first ancl-second sections by said blocking member returning to its rest position.

1. In a coin-operated machine having a change dispenser, a coin returnchute, and a coin collection box, an improvement comprising an escrowdevice and self-loading change storage unit comprising: chute meanshaving upper and lower portions, said chute means for receivingdeposited coins through an opening in said upper portion and for feedingsaid coins to the change dispenser from said lower portion; blockingmeans for holding deposited coins in an escrow position in said upperportion when said blocking means is in a rest position, said blockingmeans being movable to a second position so that said coins arepermitted to drop from said escrow position to a change storage area insaid lower portion of said chute means; coin return means fortransferring coins held in said escrow position to the coin return chutein response to a coin return signal; and coin collect means for movingsaid blocking means to its second position in response to a coin collectsignal, thereby allowing said coins to drop into said change storagearea, and further for transferring to the coin collection box inresponse to the same coin collect signal, all coins that fail to dropinto said change storage area when said blocking means is moved to itssecond position.
 2. An escrow device and self-loading change storageunit as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said blocking means comprises ablocking member movably mounted in the coin-operated machine, saidblocking member having a first position wherein passage of depositedcoins to change storage area is prevented and said coins are held in anescrow position in said upper portion, said blocking member having asecond position wherein said coins are permitted to drop from saidescrow position into said change storage area in said lower portion ofsaid chute means; and said coin collect means comprises drive means tomove said blocking means from its first to its second position inresponse to a coin collect signal, thereby allowing said deposited coinsto drop into said change storage area, and drive means responsive to thesame coin collect signal adapted to transfer to the coin collection boxall coins that fail To drop into said change storage area when saidblocking means is moved to its second position.
 3. An escrow device andself-loading change storage unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein: theupper portion of said chute means has an opening therein adjacent tosaid blocking means and a removable cover is positioned over saidopening such that, when said cover is removed, said opening is largeenough to permit coins stacked in the upper portion of the chute meansto pass through said opening; and said coin return means comprises drivemeans to remove said cover, thereby permitting coins to pass throughsaid opening, and deflection means adapted to guide said coins passingthrough said opening to said coin return chute.
 4. An escrow device andself-loading change storage unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein: saidblocking means comprises an upper surface that is inclined downwardlytoward said opening, such that coins held in said escrow position willbecome stacked in an inclined position on said surface and will slidethrough said opening when said cover is removed.
 5. An escrow device andself-loading change storage unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein: saidchute means comprises an upper portion having an opening in its sidewall adjacent to said blocking means and having a removable coverthereon, such that, when said cover is removed, said opening is largeenough to permit coins stacked in the upper portion of the chute to passthrough said opening; and said coin collect means comprises drive meansto remove said cover and to return said blocking means to its restposition from its retracted position, whereby all coins failing to dropbelow the level of said blocking means are pushed by said blocking meansthrough said opening in said chute means, and deflection means to guidesaid coins to said coin collection box after they are pushed throughsaid opening.
 6. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unitas claimed in claim 5 wherein: said deflection means for guiding coinspassing through said opening in said chute means to the coin collectionbox or to the coin return chute comprises gate means movably mounted inthe machine outside said chute means and below said opening, said gatemeans being movable to a first position in response to a coin collectsignal, so that coins passing through said opening are guided to a coincollection box, said gate means being movable to a second position inresponse to a coin return signal so that coins passing through saidopening are guided by said gate means to a coin return chute.
 7. Anescrow device and self-loading change storage unit as claimed in claim 5wherein: said blocking means is slidably mounted on a support meansmounted on the outside of said chute means, said support means fordirecting said blocking means in a path perpendicular to the directionof travel of coins within the upper portion of said chute means andthrough a slot in the upper portion of said chute means opposite saidopening in said upper portion; and said cover on said opening comprisesa removable section of said side wall of said chute means.
 8. In acoin-operated machine having a change dispenser, a coin chute, and acoin collection box, an improvement comprising an escrow device andself-loading change storage unit comprising: a hollow cylindrical chutehaving upper and lower portions, said upper portion for receivingdeposited coins through an open top end and said lower portion forreceiving coins passed by said upper portion and for storing the coinsfor use by the change dispenser; a blocking member for holding depositedcoins in an escrow position in said upper portion, said blocking membermovable in a direction essentially perpendicular to the cylindricalchute between a rest position and an activated position, said blockingmember preventing passage of coins from the upper portion to the lowerportion when in its rest position, said blocking member permitting coinsheld iN said upper portion to drop into said lower portion when moved toits activated position; coin return means for passing coins held in saidupper portion to a coin return chute through the side of said upperportion in response to a coin return signal; coin collect means formoving said blocking member to its activated position in response to acoin collect signal thereby allowing coins to drop into said lowerportion, and further, upon termination of said coin collect signal, forreturning said blocking member to its rest position thereby pushingcoins in excess of said lower portion storage capacity into the coincollection box.
 9. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unitas claimed in claim 8 wherein: said blocking member has a sloping uppersurface and a blunt frontal edge, said sloping upper surface forsupporting deposited coins held in escrow and said blunt frontal edgefor pushing excess coins off the top of coins stored in said lowerportion of said cylindrical chute.
 10. An escrow device and self-loadingchange storage unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein: said cylindricalchute comprises an upper portion having a first and second section, saidfirst section being slidably mounted so that in response to a coinreturn signal, said first section is moved horizontally to an activatedposition thereby allowing coins to pass through the opening createdbetween said first and second sections, and said second section of saidupper portion being stationarily mounted and having a slot through whichsaid blocking member is moved.
 11. An escrow device and self-loadingchange storage unit as claimed in claim 8 further comprising: adeflection gate having a first and second position, said first positionfor guiding coins to the coin return chute and said second position forguiding coins to the coin collection box.
 12. An escrow device andself-loading change storage unit as claimed in claim 11 wherein saiddeflection gate is moved to its first position in response to a coinreturn signal and to its second position in response to a coin collectsignal.
 13. An escrow device and self-loading change storage unit asclaimed in claim 12 wherein: said cylindrical chute comprises an upperportion having a first and second section, said first section beingslidably mounted so that after said deflection gate is moved to itssecond position in response to a coin collect signal, said first sectionis moved horizontally to its activated position thereby allowing coinsto be pushed through the opening created between said first and secondsections by said blocking member returning to its rest position.